Monday, October 27, 2014

You may have already heard about this, but this book, 318 Patchwork Patterns, by my awesome quilting hero Kumiko Fujita will be finally available to anybody! This is just such amazing news to anyone who loves quirky, cute, and creative patchwork patterns!!

I can't say enough how much I love this book. I have had this book for a long time but I keep going back to it because I can always find something new every time. Endless inspiration! I think Kumiko's way of utilizing beautiful fabric is just divine. She is just so talented and creative, and oh so funny and thoughtful too. I just love her! I don't think my love for patchwork would have been the same if I had not discovered her.

Years ago, my real life sewing friend Tamiko and I have decided to start a little patchwork bee and invited our lovely friends and we made some cute blocks from the book.

Living in Tokyo, I am often asked by overseas friends to look for particular Japanese sewing/quilting related things in Japan that are very hard to find. There has been nothing like the original version of 318 Patchwork Pattern that were sought out like crazy. It has been out of print for years, and there were literally hundreds of people who were looking for it. Because of its rarity, it was very hard to find in Japan too, and the market value has gone insane.

And the popularity of the book even increased when my sweet friends made this baby quilt above for my girl! (I can never thank Krista for organizing and putting together this beautiful quilt! I still can't use it practically, worrying it may be ruined.) Many patterns used in this book come from this book!

Thanks to World Book Media for republishing this book. Finally it is available to everyone at a reasonable price. And guess what? This time it is an English version!

I think the title of the book and the cover pretty much describes what this book is all about. There are 318 very unique and cute patchwork patterns that have vintage feels to them. Templates inside the book are supposed to be enlarged 250% to produce 6" x 6" finished blocks.

The first half of the book consists of blocks with straight line seams and the rest of it is about more elaborate patterns that have more curvy seams. All patterns are meant to be sewn by hands. You can paper-piece some of the blocks with straight line seams, but for most of them, you will need to break down the pattern by increasing the number of seams in order to sew by machine.

I love to read why people would love to win a book and when I read the comment where one would donate this to her guild library I thought what a super idea that way more people could get enjoyment from someone else's lucky win.

Rosemary B hereHi Ayumi.I just put this book on my Amazon wish list. I am going to buy it as soon as it is availableI loved that quilt your sweet friends made for you. I love the blocks you made too.Hugs and 💙💜💚

Hello! Thank you for the giveaway! I looked for the book and am so glad to see it will be available !! Yay! Happy Halloween to you and your sweet family! Honoka is getting so big! What a sweet little one ! Xo Pam

Hello Ayumi, and thank you for the introduction to this book. It does indeed look like a classic, and I can understand your enthusiasm about its being reissued.

I thought of you last week when I was viewing the Matisse Cut Outs exhibit at The Museum of Modern Art. I had seen some of these cut outs in prior exhibitions, but this show is amazing. You may know that the colors were painted (mostly in gouache) on paper, and then Matisse used sharp tailor's shears to freely cut out the shapes. What I had not realized was that many of his designs' beautiful curves and sharp points were achieved by ... paper piecing. It was fascinating to have a chance to see these effects close up and marvel at the creativity.

I have the Japanese version of this book, which I bought second-hand online. The price, including shipping from Japan, was a bit high, but it has been worth every penny. Some of the patterns are not for beginners, but many suit all levels, and all are just so very, very cute. I have no hesitation reinforcing your recommendation of the book.

Thanks for stopping by my blog! My name is Ayumi. I love sharing my crafty journal and other little anecdotes in my life here. I am a mother to a baby girl and a wife to my husband from Seattle. We live in a small apartment in Tokyo. I hope you enjoy being here :) Welcome♪